Hello,
I am trying to finalize my long-gun options. I don't have much room, and believe I am basically done. What I am trying to figure out is if I missed a strong contender for a new addition that I just overlooked, and why I should add it.
My goal is to meet my 'needs' without having 30 calibers of rifle/shotgun.
Ok, first, my 'needs/wants', then some examples of what I have.
I am primarily a casual target shooter, who will probably never take the time to be good enough to benchrest shoot 3" groups at 300 yards [not for another 20 years at least, if my state hasn't outlawed it by then- california].
I am someone who wants to be as good as I can, without spending a heck of a lot of time to get past that threshold of 'decent' to 'good' or 'great'.
If I can get a 3" group with an accurate rifle [or 5" from something that slings lead but strings its groups after 2 rounds], at 100 yards, I am pretty darned happy. That is 3" standing, with a taut sling being used for stability.
I am not a hunter. Never got into it. Not against it- for those with respect. Raised by hunters, but not rebelling against them either. I just don't feel a need to take a life if I am well fed. The way I was raised, the most important part of the hunt was the tracking and stalking- and I don't think I would ever want to take a shot at over 200 yards, unless we were in starving times. Again- MY standards, applied to ME ONLY. I am not judging anyone, and understand other situations where longer shots are appropriate.
Yet, I may want/need to hunt some day.
I live on the west coast, and nothing within 600 miles of me bigger than a black bear.
So, mainly fun shooting, caring about accuracy, at ranges out to 300 yards.
I currently have long guns in .22lr, .223/5.56 [semi and bolt], 7mm Mauser, .300Savage[lever], .308winchester [lever, bolt and semi], 7.62x54r and 12 gauge [SxS, OU, Semi, Pump].
I am thinking of an intermediate caliber lever action. I am leaning toward a .357Mag lever action rifle, as it matches up to a few revolvers I have nicely, and is cheaper to shoot than a .44mag lever action. I am not really all that interested in a 30-30, as it adds a new caliber to my ammo chest, and I already have .357mag and .44mag. Plus, it seems I can shoot .44mag about as cheap as 30-30, and BuffaloBore .44mag rounds are near 30-30 power within 100 yards.
I may get a 30-06 some day as an inheritance, but am in no rush to get one [purchase or inherit]. I don't see it being useful to me for my needs.
I realize that the 7mm and .300 savage are similar in overall power within 200 yards. I know the .308 is a bit better than the .300Savage, but not as much as a 30-06. I believe the 7.62x54 is between the .308 and the 30-06.
It seems like 30-30 is similar to a 7.62x39 in terms of power. Living in California, with our firearms restrictions, a 30-30 is easier/less scary to others to own. Either would be a new caliber to stock, so I'd probably go 30-30 to avoid irritations- IF I didn't go with the .44mag lever instead.
But, is there anything I am truly missing?
WHY would I want a 7m-08, or a 7mm Mag, or a .270 over what I DO have?
Again, I am unlikely to shoot at anything alive past 200 yards, and am even more unlikely to be hunting.
A 1/2" tighter group at 250 yards is not enough to matter to me. a 6" tighter group is. I am the problem with accuracy.
Is my reasoning 'solid'? Or did I miss something [and what/why]?
thank you in advance.
I am trying to finalize my long-gun options. I don't have much room, and believe I am basically done. What I am trying to figure out is if I missed a strong contender for a new addition that I just overlooked, and why I should add it.
My goal is to meet my 'needs' without having 30 calibers of rifle/shotgun.
Ok, first, my 'needs/wants', then some examples of what I have.
I am primarily a casual target shooter, who will probably never take the time to be good enough to benchrest shoot 3" groups at 300 yards [not for another 20 years at least, if my state hasn't outlawed it by then- california].
I am someone who wants to be as good as I can, without spending a heck of a lot of time to get past that threshold of 'decent' to 'good' or 'great'.
If I can get a 3" group with an accurate rifle [or 5" from something that slings lead but strings its groups after 2 rounds], at 100 yards, I am pretty darned happy. That is 3" standing, with a taut sling being used for stability.
I am not a hunter. Never got into it. Not against it- for those with respect. Raised by hunters, but not rebelling against them either. I just don't feel a need to take a life if I am well fed. The way I was raised, the most important part of the hunt was the tracking and stalking- and I don't think I would ever want to take a shot at over 200 yards, unless we were in starving times. Again- MY standards, applied to ME ONLY. I am not judging anyone, and understand other situations where longer shots are appropriate.
Yet, I may want/need to hunt some day.
I live on the west coast, and nothing within 600 miles of me bigger than a black bear.
So, mainly fun shooting, caring about accuracy, at ranges out to 300 yards.
I currently have long guns in .22lr, .223/5.56 [semi and bolt], 7mm Mauser, .300Savage[lever], .308winchester [lever, bolt and semi], 7.62x54r and 12 gauge [SxS, OU, Semi, Pump].
I am thinking of an intermediate caliber lever action. I am leaning toward a .357Mag lever action rifle, as it matches up to a few revolvers I have nicely, and is cheaper to shoot than a .44mag lever action. I am not really all that interested in a 30-30, as it adds a new caliber to my ammo chest, and I already have .357mag and .44mag. Plus, it seems I can shoot .44mag about as cheap as 30-30, and BuffaloBore .44mag rounds are near 30-30 power within 100 yards.
I may get a 30-06 some day as an inheritance, but am in no rush to get one [purchase or inherit]. I don't see it being useful to me for my needs.
I realize that the 7mm and .300 savage are similar in overall power within 200 yards. I know the .308 is a bit better than the .300Savage, but not as much as a 30-06. I believe the 7.62x54 is between the .308 and the 30-06.
It seems like 30-30 is similar to a 7.62x39 in terms of power. Living in California, with our firearms restrictions, a 30-30 is easier/less scary to others to own. Either would be a new caliber to stock, so I'd probably go 30-30 to avoid irritations- IF I didn't go with the .44mag lever instead.
But, is there anything I am truly missing?
WHY would I want a 7m-08, or a 7mm Mag, or a .270 over what I DO have?
Again, I am unlikely to shoot at anything alive past 200 yards, and am even more unlikely to be hunting.
A 1/2" tighter group at 250 yards is not enough to matter to me. a 6" tighter group is. I am the problem with accuracy.
Is my reasoning 'solid'? Or did I miss something [and what/why]?
thank you in advance.